Washington D.C. – Following reports that children’s book publisher Scholastic will banish books about race, gender or sexuality to a separate section at school book fairs, including biographies of Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and civil rights icon John Lewis, to accommodate local and state restrictions on materials that can be taught, People For the American Way President Svante Myrick released the following statement:
“There are almost no words to describe the harm that will come from Scholastic’s decision to segregate or eliminate books dealing with race and gender from its book fairs. Putting these books in a separate section will send an unmistakable message to kids that being Black or LGBTQ is so wrong, so out of the mainstream, that it belongs in a separate room. That the books consigned to this Siberia will include books about icons like Ketanji Brown Jackson and John Lewis is even more incomprehensible. We are urging Scholastic, in the strongest way possible, to reconsider this decision. The hurt and pain it could cause to kids would be lifelong.”
People For the American Way's Grandparents For Truth campaign fights book banning and censorship. Learn more here.
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About People For the American Way
People For the American Way, a national progressive advocacy organization, inspires and mobilizes community and cultural leaders to advance Truth, Justice and the American Way. We convene courageous Americans, produce compelling media and organize campaigns to defend our democracy from authoritarian threats and advance America’s promise that everyone will enjoy freedom, safety and a vote that counts. Learn more: http://www.pfaw.org